Pneumatic Tire Sub-Groove Layout for Drainage and Block Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pneumatic tires face challenges in improving drainage properties while maintaining block rigidity, as the direction and position of longitudinal and lateral grooves can lead to insufficient drainage and deteriorated steering stability.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic tire design featuring first and second main grooves extending in the tire circumferential direction, connected to first and second inclined grooves that extend obliquely, forming a block with a sub groove having a first portion open to an intermediate portion of the inclined groove and a second portion extending away from it, open to the main groove, enhancing drainage while maintaining rigidity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If longitudinal grooves and lateral grooves are formed to guide water drainage, then drainage properties are improved, but block rigidity becomes insufficient and steering stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sub groove is divided into a first portion extending in the tire circumferential direction and a second portion inclined away from the first inclined groove. This segmentation allows water to be channeled through different paths while maintaining block integrity, resolving the contradiction between drainage improvement and rigidity maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The sub groove transitions from a purely circumferential orientation to include an inclined portion that extends away from the first inclined groove. This dimensional change creates a three-dimensional drainage pathway that effectively removes water while preserving the block's structural rigidity through optimized geometry.
2Productivity
If grooves are extended to improve drainage, then water removal capability increases, but steering stability deteriorates due to reduced block rigidity
Solution Approach 1:
The sub groove is positioned and configured with specific local characteristics - the first portion extends circumferentially from an intermediate point of the first inclined groove, and the second portion inclines away from it. This local quality optimization enables effective water removal while maintaining the overall block rigidity required for steering stability.
Data Source
AI summary
A pneumatic tire includes: a first and second main grooves extending in a tire circumferential direction; first and second inclined grooves extending obliquely toward the same side with respect to the tire circumferential direction and connected to the first and second main grooves; and a block defined by the first and second main grooves and the first and second inclined grooves. The block includes a sub groove having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being open to an intermediate portion of the first inclined groove and extending in the tire circumferential direction, the second portion being inclined to a side opposite to the first inclined groove, extending from a terminal end of the first portion in a direction away from the first inclined groove, and being open to the first main groove.